Concrete Spanish support to Morocco's Autonomy Plan to show in upcoming UNSC

 Following a statement from the Moroccan Royal Cabinet announcing that Spain supports Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, a new positive dynamic has taken over the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The message addressed to King Mohammed VI by the President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sánchez announced that he "recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco," acknowledging that the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is the only realistic and viable solution to the conflict over Western Sahara.

Spain's political engagement

In the wake of Spain's supportive position regarding the Moroccan Autonomy Plan for resolving the conflict over Western Sahara, questions concerning the legal framework of this recognition are seeing the light.

However, a Moroccan diplomatic source confirmed to Hespress EN that "The official support of Spain of the Moroccan plan is not a declaration in vain. Spain sent a letter, and it is an official political engagement of Spain to endorse the Moroccan plan".

The source added that "Spain is an administrative power, and its position can have a serious and a significant impact on other states."

"At the United Nation's Security Council level, Spain is engaged for consultations. The next meeting of the Council around the conflict over Western Sahara will reveal the accurate Spanish position," added the source.

The Moroccan diplomat stated to Hespress EN, "Spain, the United States of America (USA) and other ally countries regarding the Sahara conflict are engaged, and we should wait for the upcoming rounds of the Security Council to have clearer visions."

Gustavo De Aristegui, former Spanish ambassador, expressed earlier today in an emission hosted by Maghreb Intelligence that "Everyone wanted to emphasize that this was a novelty compared to the position of the different Spanish governments."

"What happened is that what the different Spanish governments said in private was finally said in public," adding that "Times have changed."

According to the diplomat, "There was some frustration on the part of Moroccans, because the Spanish political reality and the fact that Spain was acting as a real and credible partner of Morocco in so many areas, was not accompanied by statements as solid and clear as Spain's actions."

In Spain, public opinion expressed different opinions regarding the new position of its government.

When asked about the public opinion within the Spanish political spectrum, the diplomat explained that "The traditional positions of the hard, extreme, and radical left in Spain have always been aligned with the Polisario" and that "The discontent of the left" regarding the new position of Spain "is based on a strong ideological alignment."

On the other hand, the diplomat explained that "In the case of the popular party, the difficulties and the reticence regarding the declaration of Spain of the public and clear acceptance of the Moroccan Plan of Autonomy as a credible, solid and viable solution for the crisis is because they were not consulted."

"In a democracy, a question of such importance and such extraordinary profound should have been consulted with the main party of opposition that one day will be the government of Spain" and especially that these parties, according to the diplomat, had the best ties with Morocco.

Given also that concerns about a potential shift in the Spanish position, questions about whether Spain would step back with the new stand rose as well.

When asked about an eventual change in the Spanish position, DeAriguesti noted that he does not expect such a backlash, stating the example of the former Trump Administration.

The diplomat argued that the question of the Sahara "was so important and had political implications that the democratic political party could not change."

Indeed Morocco has welcome the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, but things have not really changed on the ground.

The Biden administration has not gone back on what Trump's administration has decided, but things evolve at a slow pace still despite the support of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan by different international actors

From another angle, as this recognition constitutes a renewed political boost for Moroccan diplomacy, Yasmina Hasnaoui, professor of political science at the American International University of Kuwait, believes that this recognition undermines the position of Algeria.

Professor Hasanoui stated to Hespress EN that "This position of the Spanish government would reduce the scope of maneuvers of Algeria and the Polisario separatists on several levels whether at the United Nations or the European Union or the African Union."

"Algeria's reaction towards the Spanish position clearly shows that it is not an observer as it has tried to show for so many years."

"Rather, when Algeria summoned its ambassador, this clearly shows that it is always trying to sabotage and undermine any development towards a solution to this artificial conflict," she added.

Following Spain's letter to King Mohammed VI, Algeria recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations.

Professor Hasanoui also stated that "the recognition of the Moroccan Sahara from great powers like the USA, and the support of the Plan of Autonomy by Spain will make Algeria more isolated at the regional level and the international level."

"Algeria will be besieged from all sides. We will now expect other countries to follow specifically in the European continent," she continued.

A multilateral recognition

Following the diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain after hosting, in 2011, the Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali by Spain, bilateral relations between the two countries entered a new phase.

This new phase began with the return of Morocco's ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, to Madrid, almost a year after being summoned by Rabat for consultations.

High authorities worldwide appreciated the new position of Spain regarding the conflict in Western Saraha, expecting positive developments in the resolution of the longstanding issue.

These authorities have also recognized Morocco's strategic position as a key player on the regional and international scenes.

Former President of the Spanish government José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero described the position of his country as "politically intelligent," adding that "We must congratulate ourselves because today we have recovered something as important for Spain as a relationship of trust with Morocco," in a statement to the Spanish radio Cadena Ser.

Accordingly, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares stated at a press conference in Barcelona that "We begin a new phase of relations with Morocco and end definitively a crisis with a strategic partner," calling for bilateral relations based on "trust," "transparency" and "permanent communication."

Echoes outside the Spanish territory welcomed this initiative, indicating in this respect the correctness of the new position of Spain from one side and the viability of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan for the resolution of the conflict from the other.

Former French Prime Minister Manuel Valls twitted that "the government of Pedro Sanchez made a sudden, welcome and strategic transformation by considering the Rabat initiative for Autonomy in the Sahara as the most serious, realistic and credible basis."

In addition, US Ambassador to Spain Julissa Reynoso confirmed her country's favorable stand for the Moroccan Plan, stating for the Spanish radio Cadena Ser that "The United States considers that the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara is reasonable and viable."

Professor Hasnaoui stated to Hespress EN regarding the new position of Spain and the appreciation feedback sweeping the international political scene that "The Spanish position regarding the endorsement of the plan of Autonomy is indeed a victory for the Moroccan diplomacy."

"It is a direct response to the royal speeches. The King has affirmed on several occasions that he would not accept double standard talks," she added.

The professor commented on what this new position would mean for other countries, "I think that the Spanish position will have decisive and influential impacts on many levels as it is expected to see many European countries following the same path."

"I will also add that the Spanish position to endorse the Autonomy Plan constitutes a support mechanism for the Moroccan diplomacy."

"It is a clear refusal towards instigators such as Algeria and the Polisario that incite and always push for division and instability in the region," commented Professor Hasnaoui.

The Moroccan diplomatic source also stated to Hespress EN that "The new position of Spain reinforces Morocco's position internationally."

"It confirms, once again, that the Autonomy Plan proposed by Morocco is the exclusive and the only one realistic framework for the resolution of the conflict."

Despite this wide support and appreciation of Morocco's Plan, the conflict over the Sahara remains a sticking point at the level of the United Nations which constitutes the legal basis for a practical solution, decades after the opening of the debate regarding this issue.

As such, it is hoped in this respect that this international support would constitute the first puzzle for the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara on a practical plan.